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The mother-of-three was found beaten to death inside her Murray Bridge home, shortly after a witness saw a man kicking his way in, around 8pm.

Police, who were quick to name their suspect, have said they spotted Kirchner later that night, but lost sight of him near the riverbank.

Exclusive security vision obtained by 9NEWS and passed onto police shows a man, believed to be Kirchner, walking away from the scene just minutes after his alleged crime.

A full-scale search saw the regional town flooded with detectives and Star Group officers, who raided more than 100 properties of interest.

Police had said they were certain Kirchner was being assisted by others.

9NEWS cameras were there as officers ambushed two of his associates on the road out of town, detaining them at gunpoint.

Police water operations also searched 16 kilometres of the River Murray as part of their search and as late as Friday afternoon, a helicopter was used to help scour dense scrub on the town's outskirts.

It was just after 6pm that day when Victorian police - acting on information supplied by South Australian detectives - apprehended Kirchner.

Ms Philby told 9NEWS Ms Rothe had only known her alleged killer for a couple of weeks.

"She was a very trusting woman and that was probably the reason this all happened, she just, she trusted the wrong people."

A silver hatchback with South Australian number plates was seized along with other evidence at the Doveton property.

Six South Australian detectives flew to Melbourne for today's hearing where they will escort the trio back to Adelaide tomorrow, where charges will be formally laid.